Jack



l. F. SMITH JACK Filed Dec. 14. 1 958 Feb. 20, 1940.

3 Sheets-Shoet 1 JMJ Feb. 20, 1940.`

l. F; sMrrH 2,190,953

` JAcx l FiledV Dec. 14. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M, A@ @ya @j Feb. 20, 1940. l. F. sMn-H 2,190,953

. JACK' Filed Das.I 14. 1933 's sheets-sheet s- `lltental Feb. 20,1940

UNITED STATES PATIENT` OFFICE,

w JACK Irwin F. Smith, Faribault, Minn., assignor to Nutting Truck Company,-Faribault, `Minn., `a l corporation of Minnesota. Application December 14, 193s, serial No. 245,550

11 claims. (ci. 28o-+46) This invention relates `to improvements in jacks for use with trucks ofthe type having a load carrying body or platform and a pairof rear wheels, the front end of the body being supported by a jack when the trucl;l is in use in transporting a i load but generally by a pairof front legs when the truck is not being so used. Such trucks generally are` provided with a draft member in the form of a depending stud or pin with which `the jack is engageable in elevating and hauling the load.

One object of the invention is to provide a jack oi' the type mentionedhaving means operable to truck engaging and supporting position by simple movement of the jack tongue in one direction and means whereby upon the `accompanying elevation of the forward end of the truck a predetermined distance, the load elevating means of thejack is automatically locked in position whereupon the 4jack tongue, can be moved freely "between upper and lowerjlimits in hauling and guiding the truck. i

Another object of the `invention `is to provide a jack for the purposesfmentioned comprising preferably a pair of wheels and a rockable load elevating and supporting. frame `mounted on the axle of the wheels and which can be operated to `load elevating position by a tongue which, during and may, when desired, be swung to substantially an upright or out-oif-the-way position and automatically `latched therein.

Other objectsrrelate to various features of the invention which will be more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Fig. `l is a broken perspective view of` a `iack embodying the vpresent improvements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the jack` in a position for engaging a `truck or in the position immediately following` the lowering `oi the `truck and disengagement of the jack;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section showingthe jack in truck or load supporting position; i

Fig.` 4 is a broken sectional View takenfon line 4--4 of Fig 2; i

Fig. 5 is a` detached perspective view of the load supporting rockable frame member; and

Fig.4 6 is a side elevation of a conventional truck shown in a position for transportation by meansof one of the improved jacks. f

The embodiment `of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a` pair of wheels ID mounted on an axle I i and `between which Wheels the mechanism of thev jack is disposed. For retaining the Wheels against inward movement on the axle I i the latter is shown as being provided with a spacing sleeve I2, the ends of which, as shown in Fig. 4, prevent inward movement of the wheels along the axle. The sleeve I2 is attached to the axle ii as by a set screw i3.

A rockable frame or load carrying means indicated generally by the numeral I4 is carried by the axle II, said member comprising sideplates I5 and Iba held in spaced relation by transverse webs I6 and I'I which may be welded thereto The web I6 threadedly receivesthe setscrevv` i3 which thereby locks the assembly to the axle. The members I5 and Ia are provided with aligned apertures I8` which accommodate the axle II and the sleeve I2.` The side plates I5 and Ia extend rearwardly of the axle I I and at their rear portions are provided with apertured bosses I9fwhich constitute bearings for pivotal studs fwhich extend through the apertures of the bosses into recesses provided in the adjacent side walls of a member, 2l, which member constitutes the engaging means` for the depending pin or stud 22 or like draft member carried by the for-v l outer body 2Ia and an inner bearing or socket member 2lb which is freely rotatable Within the body 2id by reason of the balls' No, whereby the jack may be relatively easily guided. The linem- -ber 2lb is shown as being retained in assembled relation by means of a set screw `2Id,` thel'iinner end ofwhich is seated within an annular groove 2te in the lower end of the member 2lb. The

lower end of the member 2| is formed at anfangle or truncated while the lower edge of the 'rear `face thereof is provided with a latch engaging groove 2li.

A'tongue indicated generally bythe numeral 26 is provided, the handle portion of which may comprise a tube '2l and a cross piece or handle 28 while the lower portion is fabricated of side plates 29 and 3i) suitably welded to the lower portion'of the tube 2l. The plates 29 and 30 are provided with offset intermediate sections 29a andlia, respectively, whichterminate in lower end portions 2Gb and 35h, respectively, the latter of which may be held in spaced relation by a. rod 3| welded thereto.

the studs 2@ as shown in the` drawings. The lower edges of the offset portions 29d-ita` of the tongue members 29 and 36, respectively, are provided with arcuate recesses 32 conforming tothe curvature of the sleeve i2. The tongue constitutes a lever of the first class, in the embodiment disclosed, which fulcrums about the axlek inrockc ing the member It and the member 2l from the ydraft member 22 of the truck.

position shown in Fig, 2 to the load sustaining position shown in Fig. 3. l

It will be seen that by moving the free end of the tongue upwardly, lthe load carrying member` I4 will be rocked to the left or counterclock* wise as viewed in Fig. 2, the tongue pivoting or turning about the axis of the axle. When the .jack is in the position shown in Fig. 2, that is, with the lower ends of the-portions 29h-30h oi the hoor, the jack may be `wheeled or pushed into `the position wherein the tubular engaging member 2| is in vertical alignment with the pinl or The web I'I of the member Irl is preferably provided with a V-shaped notch Ii'a as shown'in Figs. 2 and 5 which acts as a stop operating against the stud 22 to assist in `aligning the tubular member ZI with said stud.

When in the position shown in Fig. 2, the

rtongue may be movedto the right or clockwise, ythe tongue turning aboutthe axle as a ful-` crum, Such movement rocks the member I4 clockwise and raises the member 2l into engagement with the stud y22. Continued downward movement of the tongue will, due to the engagement of the member 2i with the stud 22 cause thejack to move slightly to the left as the truck is'elevated, thel elevated position being shown in Fig. 3, `wherein it will be. observed that the'legs 2,5k of the truck are off the floor and that `the y,pivoted members 2li have moved intov proximity toa vertical plane through the axis of the axle II. The load is thus supported nearly above the axle 'although slightly tothe rear thereof. Wheny elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3,

retrograde movement of. themember .Ill `under' the thrust of the load is prevented by lmeans of a latch indicated generally by the numeral 33.

v fue through which the `set screw I3 extends.

The member 33 is provided at its rear edge with a catchk 33a which is engageable within the Vnotch 2If of the member 2l while the opposite `or forward end of the latch is provided with a counter-weight 33h, which tends to tilt the latch clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The mem.- ber 33 isprovided with a tubular mounting portion 33o which surrounds the tube I2, said portion 33o being provided with a slot 33d therein The ends of the slot constitute stops for limiting the tilting movement of the latch member. When thejack is in the position shownin Fig. 2, the center of gravity of the counter-weight 33h is .disposed to the rear of the axle and hence the latch tends to remain in the position shown.

The tongue is pivotally attached to the member Iii on an axis disposedy rearwardly of the axle il, such as by means of As the member I4 is moved clockwise by the tongue from the position of Fig. 2, the bar or web I6 swings Athe latch clockwise until the counter-weight is moved to a position forwardly of the axle whereupon the latch turns clockwise with the member I4 due to the counter-weighted forward end of the latch member. As the member Iii moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 toward the position shown in Fig. 3, the rear end 33a ofthe latch is guided by the inclined lower end of the member 2l into a position for automatically engaging within the notch 2lb of the member 2l as above mentioned, When the member 2l reaches the position shown in Fig. 3, it abuts a transverse stop 34 which may be in the form of a plate extending between the side walls Notwithstanding that member Ill is rockable `about the axis of the axle II,l the distance from the axis of the axle I I to the point of engagement of the member 33a is less than the distance from the axle. tothe .pivot `pins 22 and the member I 4 therefore is held in elevated or load-sustaining position by the llatch member. iEifmce in the elevated position, theA axis of the pins 20 isnearly vertically disposed over the axle II, the thrust imposed on the catcht by the load is not excessive. When the .catch 3.3 is in the full line position shown in Fig. 3, the load imposed upon the jack by the forward e-nd of the truck is carried by the members It and 2i independently ofthe tongue. The tongue may, thereu fore, after the jack has been latched in loadsustaining position,fbe swung lfreely about the axis of the pivots 2o as suits` the convenience of the operator in hauling the loaded truck. When the loaded truck has been hauled to its destination, the jack may readily be disengaged from the truck for lowering the forward end of the latter or, if desired, the tongue may be raisedfto substantially vertical positionwl'ierey it isv out of the way.v 'In Fig. 3, this last mentioned position is indicated by broken lines. l,

. Means for latching the tongue in such elevated position comprises a catch member 3E' counterweighted at its upper end, as at 36, and p-ivoted at A."il to the tongue member 3U. The lower end of the catch'35 is shown in Fig. 3 in engagement with a notch or seat 38,v formed in the side plate I5a ofthe member III.` As the handle is moved 'to such elevated'broken line position, the lower end of the catch 35 moves into engagement with `l the lnotch 38 by means oi"A the overhanging counter-weighted 4end'S ofthe catch. To release the catch 35 for thepurpose of enabling the tongue to be lowered, the operator lifts upwardly on a transverse handle member 39 operable'in a slot t 21a in the member 21 and to which is connected va gravity operable rod- `lill disposed within-the tubular member 27.

y The `lower endofthe rod to is pivo'nauy at; tached at 4I to an arm 42 of a member 'd3 `carried by a sleeve M which is mounted on a spacing-stud 45 extending between the tongue mem- .bersi and 31h ySecured to the sleeve M is' a cam arm 4G which engages the upper portion of the catch l35 'as the .rod 4I] iis raised and swings the catch 35 counterclockwise about its pivot 3i from thelow'er dotted line position to theupfper` dotted line position shown in Fig, 3, thus swing- `ing the lower 'end of the :catch out of engage-` ment with the, notch v38 and enabling the tongue -to ybe lowered. i y

Whenitis desired .to "dis'en'gage .the jack from the truck, that is, to move the parts thereoifrom the positions shown in Fig.` 3 to the position `shown in Fig. 2, the tongue is lowered to or upwardly or outwardly toward the handle 28 to rock the sleeve 44 which also carries an arcuate member 41 which engages the lower forward end of the catch 33 and tilts it upwardly to the dotted line position shown in said figure. The rear end 33u01 the latch is thus moved out of the posi- 1 tion of engagement with the member 2l, and by raising the forward end of the tongue, the latter fulcruming about the shaft or axle I l the members I4 and 2| can be returned to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The jack then may be moved outwardly from the truck. A distinct advantage results from the fact that in order to effect the release of the latch 33 by the member 44, the tongue of the jack must be in fulcruming positionon the axle and must have assumed the load, since with the tongue in an elevated position operation of the member 41 by the member is ineffective to release the latch member 31 from engagement with member 2 I. By reason of such arrangement, the weight of a load cannot be transferred suddenly to the tongue which might jerk the upper end of the tongue out of the hands of the operator or might cause injury to him or damage to the jack or to thematerial on the` truck through loss of control of the jack in lowering the truck.

l By the present improvements, a relatively simple compact jack is provided that enables the tongue to be utilized as a lever which fulcrums u about the axle in moving the load carrying of the pivot .pins 20 during the hauling operation. The catch member 35 automatically engages the notch 38 for holding the tongue in upright or out-of-the-way position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3 but is readily releasable `by means of the manually operable rod 40,\which and effect disengagement of the jack therefrom.`

When a truck has been elevated bythe jack as above described preparatory to hauling and the parts of the jack are in the full line position of Fig. 3, the elevation of the forward end of the tongue does not cause the trip lever 41 to engage the member 33 for the reason that the tongue swings about the axis of the studs 20. During swinging movement of the tongue in hauling the load or in moving the tongue to the elevated position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, it pivots about the pins it. It is only when the tongue is used as lever for raising or lowering a truck, or for moving the load elevating means to the position shown in Figs. l and 2 that the tongue pivots about the axle. Hence in hauling a load, the tongue can be swung freely about the pins 20 from the elevated position of Fig. 3 down to the full-line position of said tongue, as the operator may desire, without shifting the load to the tongue.

While I have shown and described an embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is: l

l. A truck jack comprising a pair of wheels provided with an axle, rockable truck engaging `and elevating means pivotally mounted on said 1 axle, a tongue pivotally attached to said means on an axis located rearwardly of said axle and adapted to be moved into pivotal relation with the latterfor rocking said truck engaging and elevating means to and from operative position, and means comprising a freely swingable latch member for engaging said last named `means for retaining the same in said operative position.

2. A truck jack comprising a pair of wheels provided with an axle, rockable truck. engaging `and elevating means pivotally mounted on said axle, a tongue pivotally attached to said means on an axis located rearwardly of said axle and adapted to be moved into pivotal relation with the latter for `rocking said `truck engaging and elevatingmeans to and from operative position, and gravity operable means for engaging said last named means for retaining the same in said operative position. l

3. A truck jack comprising a pair of wheels provided with an axle, rockable truck engaging and elevating means pivotally mounted on said axle, a tongue pivotally attached to said means on an axis located rearwardly of said axle and adapted to be moved into pivotal relation with the latter for rocking said truck engaging and elevating means to and from operative position, and manually releasable gravity operable means for engaging said last named means for retaining th same in said operative position. i

4. A jack of the class described comprising a pair of wheels provided with anaxle, a rockable load carrying memberv pivotally mounted on the axle and provided with a portionextending rearwardly thereof and provided with means for engaging a truck draft member and swingable by said portion from elevated load carrying position to a lower load depositing position and vice versa, atongue pivotally secured to said carrying member on anV axis rearwardly of said axle Aand extending over and forwardly of the latter and arranged to fulorum about said axle yas a first class lever for rocking said'icarrying member from load depositing to load carrying positions, a latch adapted to engage a portion of said carrying member when in said load carrying position for retaining the same in said position, and means comprisinga manually operable member carried by said tongue for releasing said latch.

" 5. A jack for use with trucks provi-ded with otally attached to said frame rearwardly of the axle and arranged to fulcrum on the axle and `rock; said frame to cause said engaging means to engage said draft member and elevate the forward end of the truck, a latch member plv` otally carried by saidaxle for engaging said means while the latter is in said elevated position for'preventing retrograde movement of said member and frame from loadsustaining position independently of said tongue, and means operable only when said tongue is in fulcruming e load carrying member pivotally mounted on said axle and provided with a portion projecting rearwardly thereof, engaging means for a truck draft member pivotally supported bysaid portion and swingable thereby from a lower position to an upper position for engaging and elevating the adjacent end of a truck, a tongue provided with spaced lowerI end members pivotally secured to opposed sides of said portion on an axis located rearwardly of the axle and extending above and forwardly of said axle and adapted for support on and to swing about the axle as a fulcrum as the tongue is lowered ior swinging said rockable member to elevated position, a Vlatch pivotally mounted on said axle and arranged for gravity operation into a position of engagement with said engaging means for retaining the latter and said rockable member in elevated load sustaining position, and manually operable means carried by said tongue for moving said latch from said engaging position for releasing said engaging means and said rockable member for movement to said lower position.

7. A wlieeledvjack of the class described provided withL an axle, a rockable load carrying member pivotally mounted on said axle and provided with a portion extending rearwardly thereof and provided with engaging means swingable by said portion upwardly to an elevated position for telescopically engaging a draft member on a truck and raising the adjacent end ofthe latter, ak tongue pivotally' attached to said load carrying member on an axis located rearwardly of the axle and extending :forwardly over and beyond said and arranged to fulcrum on said axle for rocking said load carrying member to load elevating position, and a gravity operated latch pivotally mounted on the axle and arranged to latch said engaging means automatically in said elevated position to sustain said load carrying member in saidelevated position independently of said tongue.

8. A wheeled jack of the class described prov vided with an axle, a rockable load carrying member pivotally mounted on said axle and provided with a portion extending rearwardly thereof and provided with engaging means swingable by said portion up-wardly from a lower position to an elevated position for telescopically engaging a draft member on a truck and raising the adjacent end of thel latter, va tonguepivotally attached to said load carrying member on an axis located rearwardly of the axle and extending forwardly over and beyond said axle and arranged to iulcrum on said axle for'rocking said load carrying member to load elevating position,

a gravity operated latch pivotally mounted on` `the axle and arranged to latch said engaging means automatically in said elevated position to sustain said load carrying member in said elevated position independently of said tongue, and manually operable meansY carried by said tongue for releasing said latch.

9. A jack for use with a truck provided with a draft member comprising a ypair of wheels provided with an axle, a rockable load carrying frame supported by said axle, means pivotally carried by the frame for engaging the draft member of a truck, a tongue for the jack pivotally 'rection tov a position wherein `said means en-` gages said draft member and elevates the engaged end of the truck, means operable automatically for locking said frame in said elevated load sustaining position whereby said-tongue is manipulatabie about the pivotal axis thereof independently of the frame in hauling and guiding the truck, and means Yeffective only when said'tongue is in said second mentioned position forr releasing said frame `to enable the load to rbe lowered.

l0; A jack for elevating an end portion of a truck comprising a pair of wheels provided with an axle, truck elevating means rockably carried bysaid axle, a tongue pivotally secured to said elevating means rearwardly of the axle and extending above and forwardly of the latter and arranged to fulcrum about they latter as the forward portion -of the tongue is lowered to a predetermined position for raising said elevating member to a given position, a latch movable automatically into engagement with said elevating means as the latter reaches said given position for sustaining the load independently of said tongue, a catch carried by said tongue for engaging a portion of the raised elevating member for retaining 'the vtongue in an inoperative upright p position, and a manually operable member carried by the tongue for actuating said catch to release said tongue from said inoperative position.

1l. A jacl; of the class described comprising a pair of wheels provided with an axle, load elevating mechanism rockably suported on said axle, a tongue pivotally secured to said mechanism fory rocking the same to and :from load elevated position, locking means automatically engage- 'able with said mechanism when in the elevated position for retaining said mechanism in said position independently of said tongue and to render the latter freely manipulable about the pivotal axis thereof between an upper position and a lowermost position, a latch automatically operable for releasably retaining said tongue in said vupperv position, and mechanism comprising aA member` carried by said tongue and operable manually tol `release said latch to enable the .tongue -to be lowered from said upper position and operable also when said tongue is in said 'lowermost position for releasing said locking means to enable said load elevating mechanism -to be .lowered by said tongue.

IRWIN F. SMITH. 

